Macbeth Act I Scene I-VII Translation
Original Text
Modern Translation
Scene I
[A desert place.]
Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches.
FIRST WITCH:
When shall we three meet again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
FIRST WITCH:
When should the three of us meet
again?
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
SECOND WITCH:
When the hurlyburly's done;
When the battle's lost and won.
SECOND WITCH:
When all the uproar is over,
When the battle has been lost and
won.
THIRD WITCH:
That will be ere the set of sun.(5)
THIRD WITCH:
That will be before sunset.
FIRST WITCH:
Where the place?
SECOND WITCH:
Upon the heath.
SECOND WITCH:
Upon the heath.
THIRD WITCH:
There to meet with Macbeth.
THIRD WITCH:
That’s where we’ll meet with
Macbeth.
FIRST WITCH:
I come, Graymalkin.
ALL:
Paddock calls. Anon!(10)
Fair is foul, and foul is fair.
Hover through the fog and filthy air.
Exeunt.
FIRST WITCH:
Where should we meet?
FIRST WITCH:
I’m coming, you old she-cat!
ALL:
The old toad is calling me. In a
minute!
Beautiful is disgustingly filthy, and
disgustingly filthy is beautiful.
Let’s float through the fog and filthy
air.
Original Text
Modern Translation
Scene II
[A camp near Forres.]
Alarum within. Enter King [Duncan],
Malcolm, Donalbain, Lennox, with
Attendants, meeting a bleeding [Sergeant].
DUNCAN:
What bloody man is that? He can
report,
As seemeth by his plight, of the
revolt
The newest state.
DUNCAN:
What man is that with blood all over
him?
From the looks of him, he can tell us
the latest news
Of the revolt.
MALCOLM:
This is the sergeant,
Who, like a good and hardy soldier
fought(5)
’Gainst my captivity. Hail, brave
friend!
Say to the King the knowledge of
the broil
As thou didst leave it.
MALCOLM:
This is the sergeant
Who, like a good and hardy soldier,
fought
Against my being taken prisoner.
Hail, brave friend!
Tell the king what you know about
the battle
When you left it.
SERGEANT:
Doubtful it stood,
As two spent swimmers that do
cling together(10)
And choke their art. The merciless
Macdonwald—
Worthy to be a rebel, for to that
The multiplying villainies of nature
Do swarm upon him—from the
western isles
Of kerns and gallowglasses is
supplied;(15)
And fortune, on his damned quarrel
smiling,
Show'd like a rebel's whore, but all's
too weak;
For brave Macbeth—well he
deserves that name—
Disdaining fortune, with his
brandish'd steel,
Which smoked with bloody
SERGEANT:
The outcome was doubtful;
Men fought like tired swimmers
who cling together
And wind up choking. The
merciless Macdonwald,
A worthy rebel, because
The multiple evils of nature
Are in him, has a supply of Irish
foot soldiers and
Soldiers from the Irish chiefs in the
Western islands,
And fortune, smiling on his damned
quarrel,
Looked like a rebel's whore. Only
they all lacked courage,
Because brave Macbeth, well he
deserves that name,
Outshining fortune, with his
brandished sword,
Which was steaming with blood in
Original Text
Modern Translation
execution,(20)
Like valor's minion carved out his
passage
Till he faced the slave,
Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade
farewell to him,
Till he unseam'd him from the nave
to the chaps,
And fix'd his head upon our
battlements.(25)
the hot use of it,
Like power’s hero,
Carved out his way through them
until he faced Macdonwald;
And he never shook hands, said
goodbye to him,
Until he cut him in half, from his
navel to his chin,
And put Macdonwald’s head on top
of our fort’s wall.
DUNCAN:
O valiant cousin! Worthy
gentleman!
DUNCAN:
O valiant cousin! Worthy
gentleman!
SERGEANT:
As whence the sun ’gins his
reflection
Shipwrecking storms and direful
thunders break,
So from that spring whence comfort
seem'd to come
Discomfort swells. Mark, King of
Scotland, mark:(30)
No sooner justice had, with valor
arm'd,
Compell'd these skipping kerns to
trust their heels,
But the Norweyan lord, surveying
vantage,
With furbish'd arms and new
supplies of men,
Began a fresh assault.(35)
SERGEANT:
Just as when the sun rises and
Shipwrecking storms and terrible
thunder stop,
So from that man, who seemed to
bring comfort,
Discomfort got worse. Listen, King
of Scotland, listen.
No sooner had fairness, armed with
courage,
Made these skipping foot soldiers
start running,
Only the Norwegian lord, seeing his
opportunity,
Began a fresh assault,
With loaded weapons and new
supplies of men.
DUNCAN:
Dismay'd not this
Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo?
DUNCAN:
Our captains, Macbeth and Banquo,
Were not upset by this?
SERGEANT:
Yes,
As sparrows eagles, or the hare the
lion.
If I say sooth, I must report they
were(40)
As cannons overcharged with
double cracks,
So they
SERGEANT:
Yes;
As sparrows are by eagles, or the
hare is by the lion.
If I say truth, I must report they
were as upset
As cannons overcharged with
double cracks.
So they doubly re-doubled strokes
Original Text
Modern Translation
Doubly redoubled strokes upon the
foe.
Except they meant to bathe in
reeking wounds,
Or memorize another Golgotha,(45)
I cannot tell—
But I am faint; my gashes cry for
help.
upon the enemy.
Whether they meant to bathe in
fresh, bleeding wounds,
Or create another Crucifixion scene,
I cannot tell.
Only I am faint; my deep cuts need
some help.
DUNCAN:
So well thy words become thee as
thy wounds;
They smack of honor both. Go get
him surgeons. [Exit attendant.]
Who comes here?(50)
DUNCAN:
Your words suit you as your wounds
do;
They both tell of honor. Go, get him
surgeons.
Who’s this coming here?
Enter Ross and Angus.
MALCOLM:
The worthy Thane of Ross.
MALCOLM:
The worthy Baron of Ross.
LENNOX:
What a haste looks through his eyes!
So should he
look
That seems to speak things strange.
LENNOX:
He looks as though he’s in a great
hurry!
He look should look that way with
so many strange things
To say.
ROSS:
God save the King!(55)
ROSS:
God save the King!
DUNCAN:
Whence camest thou, worthy
Thane?
DUNCAN:
Where have you come from, worthy
baron?
ROSS:
From Fife, great King,
Where the Norweyan banners flout
the sky
And fan our people cold.
Norway himself, with terrible
numbers,(60)
Assisted by that most disloyal traitor
The Thane of Cawdor, began a
dismal conflict,
Till that Bellona's bridegroom,
lapp'd in proof,
Confronted him with selfcomparisons,
ROSS:
From Fife, great king;
Where the Norwegian banners insult
the sky
And, like a fan, make our people
cold.
The King of Norway himself, with
terrible numbers of men,
Assisted by that most disloyal
traitor,
The Baron of Cawdor, began a
dismal conflict;
Until the goddess of war’s
bridegroom, disguised as truth,
Original Text
Modern Translation
Point against point rebellious, arm
’gainst arm,(65)
Curbing his lavish spirit; and, to
conclude,
The victory fell on us.
Confronted him with comparisons to
himself, such as
How they were both rebellious and
both armed alike,
Curbing his wild spirit. And, to
conclude,
The victory fell on us.
DUNCAN:
Great happiness!
DUNCAN:
Great happiness!
ROSS:
That now
Sweno, the Norways’ king, craves
composition;(70)
Nor would we deign him burial of
his men
Till he disbursed, at Saint Colme's
Inch,
Ten thousand dollars to our general
use.
ROSS:
Then
Sweno, Norwegian king, wanted a
treaty;
We would not agree to the burial of
his men
Until he paid us, at Saint Colme's
island,
Ten thousand dollars to our general
use.
DUNCAN:
No more that Thane of Cawdor shall
deceive
Our bosom interest. Go pronounce
his present death,(75)
And with his former title greet
Macbeth.
DUNCAN:
That Baron of Cawdor shall no
longer betray
Matters close to our heart. Order his
death immediately,
And, with the traitor’s former title,
greet Macbeth.
ROSS:
I'll see it done.
ROSS:
I'll see it is done.
DUNCAN:
What he hath lost, noble Macbeth
hath won.
DUNCAN:
What the traitor has lost, noble
Macbeth has won.
Exeunt.
Original Text
Scene III
[A health.]
Thunder and lightning. Enter three Witches.
Modern Translation
Original Text
FIRST WITCH:
Where hast thou been, sister?(10)
SECOND WITCH:
Killing swine.
THIRD WITCH:
Sister, where thou?
FIRST WITCH:
A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her
lap,
And mounch'd, and mounch'd, and
mounch'd.
“Give me,” quoth I.(15)
“Aroint thee, witch!” the rump-fed
ronyon cries.
Her husband's to Aleppo gone,
master o’ the Tiger;
But in a sieve I'll thither sail,
And, like a rat without a tail,
I'll do, I'll do, and I'll do.(20)
SECOND WITCH:
I'll give thee a wind.
FIRST WITCH:
Thou'rt kind.
THIRD WITCH:
And I another.
FIRST WITCH:
I myself have all the other,
And the very ports they blow,(25)
All the quarters that they know
I’ the shipman's card.
I will drain him dry as hay:
Sleep shall neither night nor day
Hang upon his penthouse lid;(30)
He shall live a man forbid.
Weary se'nnights nine times nine
Shall he dwindle, peak, and pine;
Though his bark cannot be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-tost.(35)
Look what I have.
Modern Translation
FIRST WITCH:
Where have you been, sister?
SECOND WITCH:
Killing pigs.
THIRD WITCH:
Sister, where were you?
FIRST WITCH:
A sailor's wife had chestnuts in her
lap,
And munched, and munched, and
munched. "Give me," said I.
"Begone, witch!" the fat, sloppy
woman cries.
Her husband has gone to see
Aleppo, master of the Tiger.
Only I’ll sail there in a sieve,
And, like a rat without a tail,
I'll do harm, I'll do harm, and I'll do
harm.
SECOND WITCH:
I'll give you a wind for your sail.
FIRST WITCH:
You are kind.
THIRD WITCH:
And I will give you another one.
FIRST WITCH:
I myself have all the other winds.
And they blow at all the ports.
They know all the quarters
On a sailor’s compass.
I will drain him as dry as hay.
Sleep will not hang night or day
On the roof of his house;
He shall live like a man under a
curse.
Worn out with fatigue for a week,
and very cross,
He will waste away, droop in health
and spirit .
Though his ship will not be lost,
It will be tossed about on the rough
ocean.
Original Text
Modern Translation
Look what I have.
SECOND WITCH:
Show me, show me.
FIRST WITCH:
Here I have a pilot's thumb,
Wreck'd as homeward he did come.
Drum within.
THIRD WITCH:
A drum, a drum!(40)
Macbeth doth come.
ALL:
The weird sisters, hand in hand,
Posters of the sea and land,
Thus do go about, about:
Thrice to thine, and thrice to
mine,(45)
And thrice again, to make up nine.
Peace! The charm's wound up.
SECOND WITCH:
Show me, show me.
FIRST WITCH:
I have a sea captain’s thumb here,
Whose ship was wrecked as he was
coming home.
THIRD WITCH:
A drum, a drum! Macbeth does
come.
ALL:
The three witches, hand in hand,
Messengers of the events on the sea
and land,
In this way are scheming, scheming.
Three times to you, and three times
to me,
And three times again, to make up
nine.
Quiet! The charm’s going to bring
things to a head.
Enter Macbeth and Banquo.
MACBETH:
So foul and fair a day I have not
seen.
MACBETH:
I have never seen a day that is so
disgustingly filthy and beautiful.
BANQUO:
How far is't call'd to Forres? What
are these
So wither'd, and so wild in their
attire,(50)
That look not like the inhabitants o’
the earth,
And yet are on't? Live you? or are
you aught
That man may question? You seem
to understand me,
By each at once her choppy finger
laying
Upon her skinny lips. You should be
women,(55)
And yet your beards forbid me to
interpret
BANQUO:
How far is it to the town of Forres?
What are these things
With shrunken skin and wild
clothes,
That don’t look not like they live on
earth,
Only are still on it? Are you alive?
Or are you any thing
That man may question? You seem
to understand me,
Since you each are laying a scrawny
finger
Upon your skinny lips. You should
be women,
Only since you have beards, I can’t
say
Original Text
Modern Translation
That you are so.
That you are women.
MACBETH:
Speak, if you can. What are you?
MACBETH:
Speak, if you can; what are you?
FIRST WITCH:
All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee,
Thane of Glamis!
FIRST WITCH:
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to you,
Baron of Glamis!
SECOND WITCH:
All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee,
Thane of(60)
Cawdor!
SECOND WITCH:
All hail, Macbeth! Hail to you,
Baron of Cawdor!
THIRD WITCH:
All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be King
hereafter!
THIRD WITCH:
All hail, Macbeth! That shall be
king hereafter!
BANQUO:
Good sir, why do you start, and
seem to fear
Things that do sound so fair? I’ the
name of truth,
Are ye fantastical or that indeed(65)
Which outwardly ye show? My
noble partner
You greet with present grace and
great prediction
Of noble having and of royal hope,
That he seems rapt withal. To me
you speak not.
If you can look into the seeds of
time,(70)
And say which grain will grow and
which will not,
Speak then to me, who neither beg
nor fear
Your favors nor your hate.
BANQUO:
Good sir, why are you startled, and
seem afraid of
Things that sound so beautiful? In
the name of truth,
Are you fantastic beings or indeed
what
You look like? You greet my noble
partner
With current grace and great
predictions
Of having nobility and of the hope
to be king,
that he seems carried away as well.
Only you don’t speak to me.
If you can look into the future,
And say what will happen, and what
will not,
Then speak to me, who doesn’t beg
or is afraid of
Your favors or your hateful spells.
FIRST WITCH:
Hail!
FIRST WITCH:
Hail!
SECOND WITCH:
Hail!
SECOND WITCH:
Hail!
THIRD WITCH:
Hail!(75)
THIRD WITCH:
Hail!
FIRST WITCH:
FIRST WITCH:
Original Text
Modern Translation
Lesser than Macbeth, and greater.
You will be less than Macbeth, and
much greater.
SECOND WITCH:
Not so happy, yet much happier.
SECOND WITCH:
Not as happy as Macbeth, only still
much happier.
THIRD WITCH:
Thou shalt get kings, though thou be
none.
So all hail, Macbeth and
Banquo!(80)
THIRD WITCH:
Your sons will be kings, even
though you will not be king.
So all hail, Macbeth and Banquo!
FIRST WITCH:
Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
FIRST WITCH:
Banquo and Macbeth, all hail!
MACBETH:
Stay, you imperfect speakers, tell
me more.
By Sinel's death I know I am Thane
of Glamis;
But how of Cawdor? The Thane of
Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and to be
King(85)
Stands not within the prospect of
belief,
No more than to be Cawdor. Say
from whence
You owe this strange intelligence, or
why
Upon this blasted heath you stop our
way
With such prophetic greeting?
Speak, I charge you.(90)
MACBETH:
Wait, you incomplete speakers, tell
me more.
By inheritance, I know I am Baron
of Glamis;
Only how am I Baron of Cawdor?
The Baron of Cawdor lives,
A prosperous gentleman; and for me
to be king
Is beyond belief,
No more than to be Baron of
Cawdor. Tell me
How you know these strange things?
or why
You interrupt our journey on this
blasted heath
With such prophetic greeting?
Speak, I command you.
[Witches vanish.]
BANQUO:
The earth hath bubbles as the water
has,
And these are of them. Whither are
they vanish'd?
BANQUO:
The earth has bubbles, as boiling
water has,
And these spirits are like that.
Where did they vanished to?
MACBETH:
Into the air, and what seem'd
corporal melted
MACBETH:
Into the air; and what seemed solid
melted
Original Text
Modern Translation
As breath into the wind. Would they
had stay'd!
Like breath into the wind. I wish
they had stayed!
BANQUO:
Were such things here as we do
speak about?(95)
Or have we eaten on the insane root
That takes the reason prisoner?
BANQUO:
Are you sure we’re talking about
what we’ve seen here?
Or have we eaten some plant root
That makes us hallucinate?
MACBETH:
Your children shall be kings.
MACBETH:
Your children shall be kings.
BANQUO:
You shall be King.
BANQUO:
You shall be king.
MACBETH:
And Thane of Cawdor too. Went it
not so?(100)
MACBETH:
And Baron of Cawdor too; isn’t that
what they said?
BANQUO:
To the selfsame tune and words.
Who's here?
BANQUO:
Yes, in just those words. Who's
here?
[Enter Ross and Angus.]
ROSS:
The King hath happily received,
Macbeth,
The news of thy success; and when
he reads
Thy personal venture in the rebels’
fight,
His wonders and his praises do
contend(105)
Which should be thine or his.
Silenced with that,
In viewing o'er the rest o’ the
selfsame day,
He finds thee in the stout Norweyan
ranks,
Nothing afeard of what thyself didst
make,
Strange images of death. As thick as
hail(110)
Came post with post, and every one
did bear
Thy praises in his kingdom's great
defense,
And pour'd them down before him.
ROSS:
Macbeth, the king has happily
received
The news of your success. And
when he heard about
Your personal venture into the
rebels' fight,
His wonders and his praises don’t
fight over
What should be yours or his.
Silenced with that story,
And reviewing all the events of the
day,
He found you in the stout
Norwegian’s ranks,
Not afraid of what you did or the
Strange images of death.
The reports came in As thick as hail
and every one of them sang
Your praises in your great defense
of the kingdom,
And poured such praises down
before the King.
Original Text
Modern Translation
ANGUS:
We are sent
To give thee, from our royal master,
thanks;(115)
Only to herald thee into his sight,
Not pay thee.
ANGUS:
We are sent from our royal master,
To give you thanks;
Only to bring you, announced, into
his sight,
Not just pay you for your brave
deeds.
ROSS:
And for an earnest of a greater
honor,
He bade me, from him, call thee
Thane of Cawdor.
In which addition, hail, most worthy
Thane,(120)
For it is thine.
ROSS:
And, for as the first installment of a
greater honor,
He ordered me, from him, to call
you Baron of Cawdor.
I was also ordered to add, hail, most
worthy baron,
For the title of Baron of Cawdor is
yours.
BANQUO:
What, can the devil speak true?
BANQUO:
What, can the devil speak the truth?
MACBETH:
The Thane of Cawdor lives. Why do
you dress me
In borrow'd robes?
MACBETH:
The Baron of Cawdor lives. Why do
you address me
By his name?
ANGUS:
Who was the Thane lives yet,(125)
But under heavy judgement bears
that life
Which he deserves to lose. Whether
he was combined
With those of Norway, or did line
the rebel
With hidden help and vantage, or
that with both
He labor'd in his country's wreck, I
know not;(130)
But treasons capital, confess'd and
proved,
Have overthrown him.
ANGUS:
The man who was the Baron still
lives,
Only lives that life which he
deserves to lose
Under the death penalty. I don’t
know whether he combined
Forces with those of Norway, or
aided the rebel
With hidden help and supplies, or
that with both
He labored to overthrow his
country's government,
Only his treasons, punishable by
death, confessed and proven,
have caused his downfall.
MACBETH:
[Aside.] Glamis, and Thane of
Cawdor!
The greatest is behind. [To Ross and
MACBETH:
[Aside.] Glamis, and Baron of
Cawdor.
The greatest hurdle is behind me.
Original Text
Modern Translation
Angus.]
Thanks for your pains. [Aside to
Banquo.](135)
Do you not hope your children shall
be kings,
When those that gave the Thane of
Cawdor to me
Promised no less to them?
Thanks for your pains.
Don’t you hope your children shall
be kings,
When those things that gave the
Baron of Cawdor to me
Promised no less to your children?
BANQUO:
[Aside to Macbeth.] That, trusted
home,
Might yet enkindle you unto the
crown,(140)
Besides the Thane of Cawdor. But
’tis strange;
And oftentimes, to win us to our
harm,
The instruments of darkness tell us
truths,
Win us with honest trifles, to
betray's
In deepest consequence—(145)
Cousins, a word, I pray you.
BANQUO:
That, my best friend,
Might still inflame you with passion
for the crown,
In addition to the title of the Baron
of Cawdor.
Only it ‘s strange. And often the
instruments of darkness
Tell us truths to win us over and so
harm ourselves,
Win us with honest trifles, to betray
his purposes
Of most serious results.
Cousins, a word, I beg you.
MACBETH:
[Aside.] Two truths are told,
As happy prologues to the swelling
act
Of the imperial theme!—I thank
you, gentlemen.
[Aside.] This supernatural
soliciting(150)
Cannot be ill, cannot be good. If ill,
Why hath it given me earnest of
success,
Commencing in a truth? I am Thane
of Cawdor.
If good, why do I yield to that
suggestion
Whose horrid image doth unfix my
hair(155)
And make my seated heart knock at
my ribs,
Against the use of nature? Present
fears
MACBETH:
[Aside.] Those creatures told two
truths
As happy prologues to my
ascending
The throne. I thank you, gentlemen.
[Aside.] This supernatural meeting
Can’t be bad, only it can’t be good
either. If it’s bad,
Why has it given me promise of
success,
That began with a truth? I am Baron
of Cawdor.
If it’s good, why do I give in to that
suggestion
Whose horrid image makes my hair
stand on end,
And makes my heart pound so hard
they knock at my ribs,
Against my will to stay calm? My
current fears
Original Text
Are less than horrible imaginings:
My thought, whose murder yet is
but fantastical,
Shakes so my single state of man
that function(160)
Is smother'd in surmise, and nothing
is
But what is not.
Original Text
Modern Translation
Are less than horrible imaginings.
My thought, whose murder is still
only a fantastic idea,
So shakes my manhood, that
functioning like a man
Is smothered in unfounded
allegations; and nothing is
Only what is not.
Modern Translation
BANQUO:
Look, how our partner's rapt.
BANQUO:
Look, how our partner's in such
deep thought.
MACBETH:
[Aside.] If chance will have me
king, why, chance
may crown me(165)
Without my stir.
MACBETH:
[Aside.] If luck wants me to be king,
luck may crown me
Without my doing anything at all.
BANQUO:
New honors come upon him,
Like our strange garments, cleave
not to their mould
But with the aid of use.
BANQUO:
New honors are given to him,
And are like new clothes that do not
fit when new,
Only after they are worn awhile.
MACBETH:
[Aside.] Come what come may,(170)
Time and the hour runs through the
roughest day.
MACBETH:
[Aside.] Let whatever’s going to
happen, happen.
Time and happiness can run through
the roughest day.
BANQUO:
Worthy Macbeth, we stay upon your
leisure.
BANQUO:
Worthy Macbeth, we are waiting for
you.
MACBETH:
Give me your favor; my dull brain
was wrought
With things forgotten. Kind
gentlemen, your pains
Are register'd where every day I
turn(175)
The leaf to read them. Let us toward
the king.
Think upon what hath chanced, and
at more time,
MACBETH:
Give me a minute. My tired brain
was going over
Things forgotten. Kind gentlemen,
every day I turn
The page, your pains are registered
where I can read them.
Let’s go see the King.
Let’s think about what has
happened; and, later,
When we’ve had a chance to think,
Original Text
The interim having weigh'd it, let us
speak
Our free hearts each to other.
BANQUO:
Very gladly.
MACBETH:
Till then, enough. Come, friends.
Modern Translation
let’s about
these things openly each to other.
BANQUO:
Very gladly.
MACBETH:
Until then, enough. Come, friends.
Exeunt.
Original Text
Modern Translation
Scene IV
[Forres. The palace.]
Flourish. Enter King [Duncan], Lennox,
Malcolm, Donalbain, and Attendants.
DUNCAN:
Is execution done on Cawdor? Are
not
Those in commission yet return'd?
DUNCAN:
Is the execution of Cawdor carried
out? Haven’t
Those in charge of it returned yet?
MALCOLM:
My liege,
They are not yet come back. But I
have spoke
With one that saw him die, who did
report(5)
That very frankly he confess'd his
treasons,
Implored your highness’ pardon,
and set forth
A deep repentance. Nothing in his
life
Became him like the leaving it; he
died
As one that had been studied in his
death,(10)
To throw away the dearest thing he
owed
As ’twere a careless trifle.
MALCOLM:
My King,
They haven’t come back yet. Only I
have spoke
With someone who saw him die,
and he reported
That he confessed his treasons very
frankly;
He begged your highness for
pardon; and he seemed
Very sorry. Nothing he did in his
life
Became him so much like the
leaving it; he died
As someone one who had studied
his own death,
To throw away the dearest thing he
owned
As it were a careless trifle.
DUNCAN:
There's no art
To find the mind's construction in
DUNCAN:
There's no art
In finding what the mind's thinking
Original Text
the face:
He was a gentleman on whom I
built(15)
An absolute trust.
Modern Translation
in someone’s face.
He was a gentleman on whom I built
An absolute trust.
Enter Macbeth, Banquo, Ross, and Angus.
O worthiest cousin!
The sin of my ingratitude even now
Was heavy on me. Thou art so far
before,
That swiftest wing of recompense is
slow(20)
To overtake thee. Would thou hadst
less deserved,
That the proportion both of thanks
and payment
Might have been mine! Only I have
left to say,
More is thy due than more than all
can pay.
O worthiest cousin!
The sin of my ingratitude even now
Was heavy on me. You are so far
ahead
That swiftest way of repaying is
slow
To overtake you. I wish you had
deserved less,
Then the greater proportion both of
thanks and payment
Might have been my! I can only say
that
You are due more than all of us can
ever pay.
MACBETH:
The service and the loyalty I
owe,(25)
In doing it, pays itself. Your
highness’ part
Is to receive our duties, and our
duties
Are to your throne and state,
children and servants,
Which do but what they should, by
doing every thing
Safe toward your love and
honor.(30)
MACBETH:
In doing the service and the loyalty I
owe you,
I am well paid. Your highness' role
as King
Is to receive our duties. and our
duties
Are to your throne and state,
children and servants,
Who only do what they should, by
doing everything
Loyal to your love and honor.
DUNCAN:
Welcome hither.
I have begun to plant thee, and will
labor
To make thee full of growing. Noble
Banquo,
That hast no less deserved, nor must
be known
No less to have done so; let me
enfold thee(35)
And hold thee to my heart.
DUNCAN:
Welcome here.
I have begun to nurture your career,
and will labor
To make the most of yourself. Noble
Banquo,
Who has deserved no less, and must
not be known
To have done less than Macbeth, let
me infold you
In my arms and stop you to my
Original Text
Modern Translation
heart.
BANQUO:
There if I grow,
The harvest is your own.
BANQUO:
If I grow here in your favor,
The harvest is yours.
DUNCAN:
My plenteous joys,
Wanton in fullness, seek to hide
themselves(40)
In drops of sorrow. Sons, kinsmen,
thanes,
And you whose places are the
nearest, know
We will establish our estate upon
Our eldest, Malcolm, whom we
name hereafter
The Prince of Cumberland; which
honor must(45)
Not unaccompanied invest him only,
But signs of nobleness, like stars,
shall shine
On all deservers. From hence to
Inverness,
And bind us further to you.
DUNCAN:
My generous welcomes,
Childishly cruel in being so perfect,
seek to hide themselves
In tears. Sons, kinsmen, thanes,
And you who are in line for the
throne know that
We will declare that the throne
belongs to
Our eldest son, Malcolm; whom we
name from this point forward
The Prince of Cumberland, an honor
that is
Not enough to make him a king.
Only he also needs signs of
nobleness, like stars, that will shine
On all those who deserve to be king.
We will go from here to Inverness,
And then we will bind us further to
you.
MACBETH:
The rest is labor which is not used
for you:(50)
I'll be myself the harbinger, and
make joyful
The hearing of my wife with your
approach;
So humbly take my leave.
MACBETH:
The rest is work which you’re not
used to.
I'll be your host myself, and make
my wife
Joyful with the news that you’re
coming;
So, humbly I leave you.
DUNCAN:
My worthy Cawdor!
DUNCAN:
My worthy Cawdor!
MACBETH:
[Aside.] The Prince of Cumberland!
That is a step(55)
On which I must fall down, or else
o'erleap,
For in my way it lies. Stars, hide
your fires;
Let not light see my black and deep
MACBETH:
[Aside.] The Prince of Cumberland!
I must fall down on that Step, or
jump over it,
For it’s in my way. Stars, put out
your light!
Don’t let anyone see my black and
deep desires.
Original Text
Modern Translation
desires:
The eye wink at the hand; yet let
that be
Which the eye fears, when it is
done, to see.(60)
It could happen in an instant Yet let
that go,
That thing that the eye is afraid to
see when it is done.
DUNCAN:
True, worthy Banquo! He is full so
valiant,
And in his commendations I am fed;
It is a banquet to me. Let's after him,
Whose care is gone before to bid us
welcome:
It is a peerless kinsman.(65)
DUNCAN:
True, worthy Banquo! He is so full
of courage,
And his commendations are food for
me,
A banquet to me. Let’s go after the
man
Whose has gone before us to bid us
welcome.
He is a relative without equal.
Exit.
Flourish. Exeunt.
Macbeth | Act I, Scene V
Scene V
Inverness. Macbeth's castle.
Enter Macbeth's wife alone, with a letter.
LADY MACBETH:
“They met me in the day of success, and I have
learned by the perfectest report, they have more in them
than mortal knowledge. When I burned in desire to question
them further, they made themselves air, into which
they vanished. Whiles I stood rapt in the wonder of it, came(5)
missives from the King, who all-hailed me ‘Thane of
Cawdor’; by which title, before, these weird sisters saluted
me, and referred me to the coming on of time with ‘Hail,
King that shalt be!’ This have I thought good to deliver thee,
my dearest partner of greatness, that thou mightst not lose(10)
the dues of rejoicing, by being ignorant of what greatness is
promised thee. Lay it to thy heart, and farewell.”
Glamis thou art, and Cawdor, and shalt be
What thou art promised. Yet do I fear thy nature;
It is too full o’ the milk of human kindness(15)
To catch the nearest way. Thou wouldst be great;
Art not without ambition, but without
The illness should attend it. What thou wouldst highly,
That wouldst thou holily; wouldst not play false,
And yet wouldst wrongly win. Thou'ldst have, great Glamis,
That which cries, “Thus thou must do, if thou have it;(20)
And that which rather thou dost fear to do
Than wishest should be undone.” Hie thee hither,
That I may pour my spirits in thine ear,
And chastise with the valor of my tongue
All that impedes thee from the golden round,(25)
Which fate and metaphysical aid doth seem
To have thee crown'd withal.
Enter a Messenger.
What news do you have? What is your tidings?
MESSENGER:
The King comes here tonight.
LADY MACBETH:
Thou'rt mad to say it!
Is not thy master with him? who, were't so,(30)
Would have inform'd for preparation.
MESSENGER:
So please you, it is true: our Thane is coming.
One of my fellows had the speed of him,
Who, almost dead for breath, had scarcely more(35)
Than would make up his message.
LADY MACBETH:
Give him tending;
He brings great news.
Exit Messenger.
The raven himself is hoarse
That croaks the fatal entrance of Duncan(40)
Under my battlements. Come, you spirits
That tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here
And fill me, from the crown to the toe, top-full
Of direst cruelty! Make thick my blood,
Stop up the access and passage to remorse,(45)
That no compunctious visitings of nature
Shake my fell purpose nor keep peace between
The effect and it! Come to my woman's breasts,
And take my milk for gall, you murdering ministers,
Wherever in your sightless substances(50)
You wait on nature's mischief! Come, thick night,
And pall thee in the dunnest smoke of hell,
That my keen knife see not the wound it makes,
Nor heaven peep through the blanket of the dark
To cry, “Hold, hold!”(55)
Enter Macbeth.
Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor!
Greater than both, by the all-hail hereafter!
Thy letters have transported me beyond
This ignorant present, and I feel now
The future in the instant.(60)
MACBETH:
My dearest love,
Duncan comes here tonight.
LADY MACBETH:
And when goes hence?
MACBETH:
Tomorrow, as he purposes.
LADY MACBETH:
O, never(65)
Shall sun that morrow see!
Your face, my Thane, is as a book where men
May read strange matters. To beguile the time,
Look like the time; bear welcome in your eye,
Your hand, your tongue; look like the innocent flower,(70)
But be the serpent under't. He that's coming
Must be provided for; and you shall put
This night's great business into my dispatch,
Which shall to all our nights and days to come
Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.(75)
MACBETH:
We will speak further.
LADY MACBETH:
Only look up clear;
To alter favor ever is to fear:
Leave all the rest to me.
Exeunt.
Scene VI
[Before Macbeth's castle
Hautboys and torches.]
Enter King [Duncan], Malcolm, Donalbain, Banquo, Lennox, Macduff, Ross, Angus, and
Attendants.
DUNCAN:
This castle hath a pleasant seat; the air
Nimbly and sweetly recommends itself
Unto our gentle senses.
BANQUO:
This guest of summer,
The temple-haunting martlet, does approve(5)
By his loved mansionry that the heaven's breath
Smells wooingly here. No jutty, frieze,
Buttress, nor coign of vantage, but this bird
Hath made his pendant bed and procreant cradle;
Where they most breed and haunt, I have observed(10)
The air is delicate.
Enter Lady Macbeth.
DUNCAN:
See, see, our honor'd hostess!
The love that follows us sometime is our trouble,
Which still we thank as love. Herein I teach you
How you shall bid God ’ild us for your pains,(15)
And thank us for your trouble.
LADY MACBETH:
All our service
In every point twice done, and then done double,
Were poor and single business to contend
Against those honors deep and broad wherewith(20)
Your Majesty loads our house. For those of old,
And the late dignities heap'd up to them,
We rest your hermits.
DUNCAN:
Where's the Thane of Cawdor?
We coursed him at the heels and had a purpose(25)
To be his purveyor; but he rides well,
And his great love, sharp as his spur, hath holp him
To his home before us. Fair and noble hostess,
We are your guest tonight.
LADY MACBETH:
Your servants ever(30)
Have theirs, themselves, and what is theirs, in compt,
To make their audit at your Highness’ pleasure,
Still to return your own.
DUNCAN:
Give me your hand;
Conduct me to mine host. We love him highly,(35)
And shall continue our graces towards him.
By your leave, hostess.
Exeunt.
Macbeth | Act I, Scene VII
Original Text
Modern Translation
Scene VII
Macbeth's castle.
Hautboys [and] torches. Enter a Sewer and
divers Servants with dishes and service
[who pass] over the stage. Then enter
Macbeth.
MACBETH:
If it were done when ’tis done, then
’twere well
It were done quickly. If the
assassination
Could trammel up the consequence,
and catch,
With his surcease, success; that but
this blow
Might be the be-all and the end-all
here,(5)
But here, upon this bank and shoal
of time,
We'd jump the life to come. But in
these cases
We still have judgement here, that
we but teach
Bloody instructions, which being
taught return
To plague the inventor. This evenhanded justice(10)
Commends the ingredients of our
poison'd chalice
To our own lips. He's here in double
trust:
First, as I am his kinsman and his
MACBETH:
If this deed were done when it is
done, then it would be better
If it were done quickly. If the
assassination of the King
Could be entangled with the
consequences, then I could,
With his murder, be a success. If
only this blow
Could be the be-all and the end-all
right here,
Only here, upon this bank and
shallows of time,
We’d risk it for the life to come.
Only in these things,
We are always punished here
because we teach others
How to murder, and once they learn,
they come back
To murder us. This balanced justice
Returns the ingredients of the gold
cup we poisoned
To our own lips. Duncan is here in
double trust.
First, he is here because I am his
relative and his subject,
Original Text
subject,
Strong both against the deed; then,
as his host,
Who should against his murderer
shut the door,(15)
Not bear the knife myself. Besides,
this Duncan
Hath borne his faculties so meek,
hath been
So clear in his great office, that his
virtues
Will plead like angels trumpettongued against
The deep damnation of his takingoff,(20)
And pity, like a naked new-born
babe,
Striding the blast, or heaven's
cherubin horsed
Upon the sightless couriers of the
air,
Shall blow the horrid deed in every
eye,
That tears shall drown the wind. I
have no spur(25)
To prick the sides of my intent, but
only
Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps
itself
And falls on the other—
Modern Translation
Both Strong reasons against the
deed. Secondly, as his host,
I should shut the door against his
murderer,
Not carry the knife myself. Besides,
this Duncan
Has very humble in the use of his
power, has been
So confident in his great duty, that
his virtues
Will pray like angels, as loud as
trumpets, against
The deep damnation of his murder.
And sorrow, like a naked newborn
baby,
Moving in spite of the outburst, or
heaven's archangels, supported
By the invisible messengers of the
air,
Shall everyone about the horrid
deed,
And tears shall drown out the noisy
wind. I don’t have any
Valid reasons for killing him, only
Ambition that can leap over
anything, even itself,
And it falls on the other reasons.
Hello! What news?
Enter Lady [Macbeth.]
How now, what news?
LADY MACBETH:
He has almost supp'd. Why have
you left the(30)
chamber?
LADY MACBETH:
He has almost finished supper. Why
did you leave the dining hall?
MACBETH:
Hath he ask'd for me?
MACBETH:
Has he asked for me?
LADY MACBETH:
Know you not he has?
MACBETH:
LADY MACBETH:
Don’t you know he has?
MACBETH:
Original Text
Modern Translation
We will proceed no further in this
business:
He hath honor'd me of late, and I
have bought(35)
Golden opinions from all sorts of
people,
Which would be worn now in their
newest gloss,
Not cast aside so soon.
We will proceed no further in this
business.
He has recently honored me, and I
now have the
Golden opinions from all sorts of
people,
Which I want to enjoy for a bit
longer, and
Not cast them aside so soon.
LADY MACBETH:
Was the hope drunk
Wherein you dress'd yourself? Hath
it slept since?(40)
And wakes it now, to look so green
and pale
At what it did so freely? From this
time
Such I account thy love. Art thou
afeard
To be the same in thine own act and
valor
As thou art in desire? Wouldst thou
have that(45)
Which thou esteem'st the ornament
of life
And live a coward in thine own
esteem,
Letting “I dare not” wait upon “I
would”
Like the poor cat i’ the adage?
LADY MACBETH:
Was the hope you dressed yourself
in
Drunk? Did it go to sleep it off?
And does it wake up now, hung over
From what it so freely committed
to? I will calculate your love
From this time forward. Are you
afraid
To be the same man in reality
As the one you wish to be? Would
you have the crown
Which you believe to be the
ornament of life,
And yet live like a coward in your
own self-esteem,
Letting "I shouldn’t" wait for "I
would,"
Like the poor cat in the proverb?
MACBETH:
Prithee, peace!(50)
I dare do all that may become a
man;
Who dares do more is none.
MACBETH:
Pray you, peace!
I dare to do all that may become a
man;
Who dares to do more is not a man.
LADY MACBETH:
What beast was't then
That made you break this enterprise
to me?
When you durst do it, then you were
a man;(55)
And, to be more than what you
were, you would
LADY MACBETH:
What beast was it, then,
That made you tell me about this
plan?
When you “dared” to do it, then you
were a man;
And, in order to be more than what
you are, you would
Original Text
Be so much more the man. Nor time
nor place
Did then adhere, and yet you would
make both:
They have made themselves, and
that their fitness now
Does unmake you. I have given
suck, and know(60)
How tender ’tis to love the babe that
milks me:
I would, while it was smiling in my
face,
Have pluck'd my nipple from his
boneless gums,
And dash'd the brains out, had I so
sworn as you
Have done to this.(65)
MACBETH:
If we should fail?
LADY MACBETH:
We fail?
But screw your courage to the
sticking-place,
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is
asleep—
Whereto the rather shall his day's
hard journey(70)
Soundly invite him—his two
chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so
convince,
That memory, the warder of the
brain,
Shall be a fume and the receipt of
reason
A limbec only. When in swinish
sleep(75)
Their drenched natures lie as in a
death,
What cannot you and I perform
upon
The unguarded Duncan? What not
Modern Translation
Be so much more the man. Time
and place
Were not in agreement, and yet you
want to control both.
They have made themselves agree,
and that agreement now
Doesn’t agree with you. I have
nursed a baby, and know
How tender it is to love the baby
that drinks my milk.
I would have, while it was smiling
in my face,
Plucked my nipple from his
boneless gums
And dashed out his brains, if I had
sworn to do this
As you have.
MACBETH:
If we should fail?
LADY MACBETH:
We fail!
Only dig deep for your courage,
And we'll not fail. When Duncan is
asleep,
Which should be soon since he is
very tired
From his day's hard journey, I will
go to his two chamberlains
With wine and carousing so
Their memory, the guardian of the
brain,
Will be a wisp of smoke, and the
tired brain won’t
Be able to think clearly. When their
drenched bodies
Sleep like pigs, almost like death,
Is there anything that we can’t do to
The unguarded Duncan? Anything
we can’t put off on
His officers who are like sponges?
Who will bear the guilt
For our great slaughter?
Original Text
Modern Translation
put upon
His spongy officers, who shall bear
the guilt
Of our great quell?(80)
Exeunt.
MACBETH:
Bring forth men-children only,
For thy undaunted mettle should
compose
Nothing but males. Will it not be
received,
When we have mark'd with blood
those sleepy two
Of his own chamber, and used their
very daggers,(85)
That they have done't?
MACBETH:
Only give birth to male children,
For your unconquered spirit should
be passed on
Only to males. Won’t it be
understood,
When we have marked those sleepy
two
Of his own chamber with blood, and
used their very own daggers,
That they have done it?
LADY MACBETH:
Who dares receive it other,
As we shall make our griefs and
clamor roar
Upon his death?
LADY MACBETH:
Who dares to understand any other
way,
Since we will cry and scream so
loudly
At the news of his death?
MACBETH:
I am settled, and bend up(90)
Each corporal agent to this terrible
feat.
Away, and mock the time with
fairest show:
False face must hide what the false
heart doth know.
MACBETH:
I’m convinced, and I commit
Every part of my body to this
terrible event.
Let’s go and pass the time by
pretending to be happy.
False faces must hide what the false
heart knows.